2026 has seen few things but tumult so far. But among that chaos, there have been some gems of singles from artists that have long since been heard from. If one thing can be celebrated in this time, be it the art that great people are producing, for whatever reason. Noah Kahan, Arctic Monkeys and Labi Siffre are among those releasing such fantastic music, and a whole heap more on the way with the remaining contributors of HELP(2) . The Great Divide  – Noah Kahan Four years af

Pict, live at The Bodega Each year, Beat the Streets transforms Nottingham into a city-wide celebration of grassroots music, with venues and organisers raising money for Framework, the local charity helping people who experience homelessness across the East Midlands. More than just a gig-hopping exercise, the event brings together artists, promoters and audiences around a shared commitment to community and accessible creative spaces. From early afternoon sets to late-night cl

2025 has proven itself to be an incredible year for music. Throughout the industry, artists were taking big steps to reinvent their sounds, push boundaries between genres, and explore new emotional and sonic territories. This year saw veterans like Pulp and Suede return with records that balance nostalgia of the Britpop era with urgent modernity, while newcomers like Model/Actriz helped redefine what rock and punk can sound like today. Across pop, indie, electronic, rock, lat

The UK is introducing strict caps on ticket resales to stop touts from inflating prices. Artists and fans have long demanded these reforms amid rising frustration with inflated resale costs and chaotic ticketing systems. Ticketing companies are pushing back, but the new rules mark a major step toward fairer access for fans. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Hayley Williams of Paramore , Todd Owyoung/NBC, Getty Images On November 13th 2025, acts like Dua Lipa , Radiohead , and The

Sufjan Stevens’ ambitious “50 States Project” produced only  Michigan  and  Illinois  before he abandoned the idea, admitting it was more of a joke than a real plan. Despite its incompletion, the myth of the project endures, adding to the fascination surrounding his work. The two albums that do exist remain landmark achievements, inviting listeners to imagine the many states that never came to be. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Sufjan Stevens , 2005 Over 20 years ago, a young S

When Radiohead released Kid A  in October 2000, it marked one of the most radical artistic pivots in modern popular music. Abandoning the guitar-driven sound that had defined their rise through the 1990s, the band retreated into a fragmented world of electronic textures, cryptic composition methods, and deliberate opacity. Max Durno writes on the making, the release and the wake of Radiohead's seminal project, 25 years after its release. It’s April 1998. Radiohead had just c

A decade on, Carly Rae Jepsen’s  Emotion  remains a pop masterclass, blending 80s-inspired synths with heartfelt, unfiltered emotion. Initially overlooked, the album has become a cult favorite, celebrated for its joy, vulnerability, and meticulously crafted hooks. More than a collection of songs, it proves that sincerity and pure pop craftsmanship endure. The Mic's Ben Dale reports. Emotion (Carly Rae Jepsen) album cover, photographed Matthew Welch Following her 2011 hit Cal

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In April 1989, Pixies pulled their second album Doolittle right from their back pocket and offered it up to the world. The music...

In 1983, under the guise of The The, Matt Johnson burst onto the scene with a richly ambiguous offering of pop like no other. Soul Mining...

On the 20th of February 1984, The Smiths released their first of what was to be four iconic studio albums. This debut set out with clear...

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10 years since its initial release, Arctic Monkeys’ 5th full-length LP ‘AM’ remains as iconic and popular as ever, Jay Kirby reviews this...

Jay Kirby takes a look back at As The Palaces Burn's on it's 20th anniversary. As The Palaces Burn sits in a precarious position in Lamb...

Ross Williams previews one of Nottingham's favourite live music events, the intercity spectacle that is Dot To Dot! Dot To Dot Festival...

It can often be difficult to describe why something moves you emotionally: how can you explain why a song makes you dance and sing, or...

Ten years after its release, Tabitha Smith explores I Love You. and its legacy of teen angst in indie pop music. The rise of soft grunge...

The fourth studio album by the UK metal titans, Bring Me The Horizon, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Widely regarded as the...

This week's The Mic Recommends... series offers reviews of Tyler, the creator, Metallica, and Mila. DOGTOOTH – Tyler, the Creator In his...